Our Animals

Animal residents at Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary do not tell the typical zoo story. All animals at this sanctuary have been rescued from other locations and have a lesson to teach. They include a tiger who was rescued from a facility that closed; a black bear who came to the sanctuary as a cub when his mother was mistakenly shot by a hunter; a mountain lion who was kept as a pet; and a gray fox who was rescued from a pool.

Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary also has a prestigious role as participant in the American Zoo and Aquarium Association’s Species Survival Plan for the critically endangered Mexican Gray Wolf. After a 20-year absence in the wild, this animal is being reintroduced to its former range following a successful captive breeding program. The sanctuary is a housing facility for wolves not yet ready for release.

Our Birds

Blue and Gold Macaw

(Ara ararauna)

Mandy was given-up by a private owner in September of 1988 and placed at HPZS. Max arrived in 2012..

Macaws are from South America and are adaptable to different habitats like forests, tall palms, and swamps.

They feed on seeds, fruits, nuts, and berries. Macaws are known to nibble on riverbank clay, believed to contain a substance that counteracts toxins.

Few groups of birds are as well known as the parrot family and their popularity as pets is well documented in history. Blue and golds are said to be somewhat more intelligent and alert than other species. They are among the larger parrots, with the male reaching about 34 inches and the female slightly smaller. Plumage is similar in both sexes. They are capable of exerting about 40 pounds of pressure with their beak.

Blue and Golds are primarily monogamous, remaining bonded for life. They are often seen flying in large flocks, but the bonded pairs will fly close together with their wings nearly touching. Members of this species can live 80 to 100 years.

A major factor in population depletion of these birds is human development and agriculture. In the Amazon millions of acres of habitat have disappeared.

Also adding to their population depletion in the wild is the international trade in parrots. Due to the stress of capture, shipment, and appalling conditions, it is estimated that 99 out of 100 wild caught birds may die within a year of being purchased from dealer. Several laws have been passed that ban imports and the numbers coming into the US have dropped dramatically since the late 1970s. However, illegal smuggling into the US and other countries is still a problem.

Emu

(Dromaius novaehollandiae)

Ollie and Fran arrived in 1997.

Emus are found across Australia, but most commonly in the sclerophyll forest and savanna woodland. They typically eat fruits, flowers, insects, seeds, and green vegetation. They will ingest large stones into their gizzards to aid in the grinding process. They do need water frequently.

These large birds weight from 60 to 120 pounds. Emus belong to a family of flightless bird’s known as Ratites. This family includes the well-known ostrich of Africa, rheas of South America, cassowaries of North Australia, tinamou of Central and South America, and Kiwis of New Zealand. Ratites have only rudimentary wings and cannot fly. They have three toes that are more adapted for running than most birds. They can reach speeds of up to 30 mph in short bursts and can make a stride of nine feet.

Emus live from five to 10 years in the wild, but longer in captivity.

Emus, in general, are stable in population. However, small local populations face threats from habitat loss, feral dogs, and other problems.

Great Horned Owl

(Bubo virginianus)

Mr. Wilson was injured as a nestling and became imprinted during rehabilitation at an unlicensed facility. Due to this behavioral problem, he would not be able to survive in the wild. Sydney and Victoria arrived in 2009.

Owls are nocturnal (active at night), and use their exceptional eyesight and hearing to hunt rodents. They are very important in helping to control rodent populations. Even though she can't see you, she can hear you, and her head will follow you when you walk by.

We feed Mr. Wilson a mouse or rat in the evening. In the wild, great horned owls feed on a variety of small mammals.

Great horned owls are found throughout much of North and South America . They have noiseless flight and powerful talons to sneak up on and capture their prey.

Raven

(Corvus corax)

"Edgar" was born in 1993. He was found as a nestling in August of that year with a broken leg and an injured wing. He can not be released because he is not able to fly. "Cooper" arriveed in 2006 as a 1 year-old. "Odin" arrived in 2012.

Ravens are found almost worldwide, and are the largest and most intelligent of the songbirds in North America. He can talk, and if you say "Hi Ed" to him, he will sometimes say it back to you!

Ravens are omnivorous (they eat meat and plant life). In the wild they are scavengers and will eat just about anything. We feed him meat, rodents, eggs, and some fruits and vegetables.

They are diurnal (active during the day), and very playful. Ravens can live to be 25 to 30 years old.

"Ed" is alone but not lonely. Many other birds and ravens come to visit him. But, because this is a rescue zoo, we could take another raven if one needed a home.

Because ravens don't have sweat glands, they cool off by keeping their beaks open.

Red-Tailed Hawk

(Buteo jamaicensis)

A wildlife rehabilitator brought "Lady Hawk II" to us in the spring of 2003. Half of her right wing was amputated, but we don't know the cause of the injury. She has been in captivity since 1996. Her age is unknown. Because she can't fly, she can never be returned to the wild.

Red-tailed hawks are found from Alaska and Canada , throughout the United States , and south as far as Panama .

Unlike owls, red-tailed hawks are diurnal. That means that they are active during the day. But like owls, they are carnivores and eat meat. In the wild they eat rodents and small mammals, lizards and snakes, and small birds. We feed her dead rats and mice. They use their excellent eyesight to locate their prey.

Hawks are valuable in helping to control rodent populations.

Turkey Vulture

(Cathartes aura)

The sanctuary's turkey vulture "Lurch" arrived in spring of 2003. He had half of his right wing amputated before arriving in Prescott, due to an injury of unknown origin.

Turkey vultures are found from southern Canada to the tip of South America. They can have a wingspan of up to 6 feet. They are very graceful flyers. Riding thermals and updrafts, they rarely flap their wings.

Turkey vultures eat carrion. There are no feathers on their heads so that they won’t get dirty when they eat. We should be thankful that they perform the unenviable task of cleaning old, dead carcasses. But, recent studies indicate that as much as 50% of their diet is vegetation.

They are very clean and spend 2 to 3 hours a day preening. Their digestive system kills all viruses and bacteria in the food they eat, and their droppings are free of disease.

Turkey vultures roost in large groups.

A roost is a group of vultures living together and sleeping at night in a tall tree. Many generations of the same group will return to the same tree or trees for decades.

A mated pair will go off by themselves to lay 2 eggs and raise their young. They don’t build nests, but lay their eggs on the ground of a rock ledge, cave, hollow tree or abandoned barn.

Turkey vultures are not endangered. But another member of the vulture family—the massive California condor—is critically endangered.

Harris Hawk

Mapiya and Kohana both arrived in August 2009 after suffering wing and foot injuries in the wild.

Their diet includes: rodents, rabbits, other birds and lizards.

Harris Hawks live in semi-arid areas from the southwest of North America all the way to the tip of South America.

Harris Hawks tend to hunt in groups.

Peregrine Falcon

Journey arrived in August 2009 after being injured in the wild.

Peregrine falcons are the fastest animals in the world, reaching speeds of 225 miles an hour while in a dive.

Peregrine falcons eat other birds that are caught in flight.

They are one of the world’s most common birds of prey and live on every continent except Antarctica.

American Kestrel

Petey arrived in 2012 after suffering a leg injury.

The American Kestrel is the smallest falcon in North America.

They are located throughout North America.

Kestrels eat insects, small mammals, lizards and birds.

Poultry

Betty and Blondie arrived in 2010. Buffy arrived in 2011.

All were donated by private owners.

The chickens are free range around the zoo.

Chickens eat seeds, produce and insects.

Peafowl

Fiasco, Sunset, Giovanni, Larry and Curly. Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary has always had peafowl. The five peacocks currently living at the Zoo were all hatched here.

Peacocks eat seeds, vegetables, fruit and insects.

Peacocks, when the combined length of its train and its large wingspan are considered, are one of the largest flying birds.

Green-Cheeked Conure

Pyrrhura molinae

Conures are native to the forests of South America where they live at treetop level in flocks of 10 to 20 birds

Conures are endangered in their native habitats

They eat seeds, fruit and vegetable matter

Conures have been known to use tools to reach itchy spots

During the cold months, the conures are sometimes off-exhibit, due to the cold.

Golden Eagle

Aquila chrysaetos

Golden Eagles are North America’s largest bird of prey with their wingspan reaching up to seven and a half feet. They are athletic hunters, reaching speeds in their dives of up to 150 mph. Their excellent eyesight enables them to see prey from very far distances. They eat a wide variety of prey items, but have been known to attack animals as large as deer. A Golden Eagle can carry up to 8 pounds.

Golden Eagles are solitary birds and maintain large territories up to 55 square miles, although this species does mate for life. Some Golden Eagles are migratory.

The Golden Eagle is protected under the Bald Eagle Protection Act.

Tekka was born in approximately 2004 and incurred a wing injury that has since healed, but prevents flight motion. Tekka arrived at HPZS in 2013.

Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

American Bald Eagles are the national bird of the United States of America and the only eagle unique to North America. Bald Eagles are often called fish or sea eagles, due to their diet being composed mostly fish and their preference of habitats near water.

Female Bald Eagles are slightly larger than the males. These eagles have been known to live up to 30 years, but the median life expectancy is around fifteen. Eagles are carnivores, hunting a variety of prey. They use their large talons to grab their prey and can lift up to four pounds.

In Arizona, Bald Eagles were listed as an endangered species in 1978 after only 11 breeding pairs were identified in the state. Since then, conservation efforts and wildlife studies have contributed to an increase in the population and Bald Eagles in Arizona were removed from the endangered species list in 2011.

The Bald Eagle is protected under the Bald Eagle Protection Act.

Montana was born in Montana in approximately 2002. She was rescued and rehabilitated in Arizona. She arrived at HPZS in 2013.

Ferruginous Hawk

Range: Southwest and Central U.S., Central Canada and Northern Mexico

Habitat: Grasslands, Plains, Valleys & Desert Areas

Diet: Small mammals, with rabbits, ground squirrels, and prairie dogs making up the bulk of their diet, but will also eat birds, reptiles and some insects.

The Ferruginous Hawk is the largest of the North American Buteo hawks and is often mistaken for an eagle. Like all birds of prey, the female Ferruginous Hawk is larger than the male. The Ferruginous Hawk is one of the only two hawks that have feathers that cover their legs down to their toes.

Phoenix arrived in the summer of 2013with a permanent wing injury.

Muscovy Duck

Cairini moschata

Marmaduck arrived at the Sanctuary in 2014.

Muscovy ducks are native to Mexico and Central and South America. They are perching ducks and like to spend most of their time in trees. They are a protected species.

Domestic Turkey

Pilgrim and Quaker arrived in 2014 from a private owner.

Meleagris gallopavoWild Turkeys are native to large parts of the United States. The turkey is only one of two domesticated birds native to the Americas.

Pilgrim and Quaker are Royal Palm Turkeys, a breed not normally used for meat production but as ornamental birds.

It's the Best Deal in Town!

You can join both Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary AND Highlands Center for Natural History for only $90! That's a $30 savings! Along with supporting two great institutions, you receive full Family Membership benefits to both HPZS and HCNH. CLICK HERE or call (928)778-4242 for more information. To learn more about the Highlands Center and their programs, visit http://highlandscenter.org/.

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Mexican Wolf Website

Celebrate Lobo Week and the 17th Anniversary of releasing the Mexican Grey Wolf back into the wild March 23rd through 30th.

Breakfasts with the Animals

Join Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary for Breakfasts with your favorite animals! Each event includes a continental breakfast in front of the featured animal, a special animal feeding, keeper talk, bio-fact station, and special activity. Here's the 2015 schedule:

Breakfast with the Tiger - April 18

Breakfast with the Mountain Lion - May 9

Breakfast with the Tortoises - June 6

Breakfast with the Bears - September 12

Breakfast with the Wolves - October 10

CLICK HERE for more information, or call (928)778-4242 to reserve your space today!